02 March 2007

Art doesn’t have to hang on the wall

More and more people are creating art that is confined to the pages of small journals or sketchbooks rather than being hung on the wall. This is art on a more personal level – it’s about meaning rather than great talent.

These illustrated journals, often containing both text and artwork, are usually in a small format enabling them to be carried everywhere in a pocket or handbag. Unlike a traditional sketchbook containing preparatory sketches for larger works, the items drawn within these little books are chosen not for their beauty but for their personal meaning to the artist, whether they be items around the home, places visited or people met.

One of the great proponents of this type of art is Danny Gregory, whose book The Creative License encourages readers to draw something every day.